GSN Review: Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength

Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, a new Irish Whiskey has arrived on the scene. This one promises something quite unique, as it is a pot still and cask strength spirit. Distilled at the New Midleton facility in Cork, Ireland, they use a blend of malted and unmalted barley which is triple distilled in traditional copper pot stills, then aged in a mix of first fill Spanish Oloroso sherry casks and American bourbon whisky barrels. All of this leads to the same result as their flagship 12 year old, but this bottling goes the extra mile by being a cask strength whiskey.

Try this un-watered at first, and then try adding a quarter ounce of still water at a time to see how the flavors gradually open up and develop. Once you do, you’ll find your preference and will know how much to add when you desire a wee dram.

Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength (115 proof)Visual: Lightly pale gold.Nose: Herbal, honeyed malt with a heavy hit of oak. Hints of saddle leather, demerara sugar, raisins, baking spice.Taste: Intensely woody with more tang than a typical 12 year old. An unusual slightly musty quality that adds a sourdough note. When watered and brought down to normal proof, these qualities are softened, but remain in a less intrusive way. Other notes include dried stone fruits and a hint of plantain.Finish: Medium long with a bitter tinge at the end. Dark berry and chocolate with a slow fade. There is a lot of body and character here, but I prefer the original Redbreast.Overall: This is a rougher and more intense Redbreast that reaches a little too far and goes beyond the typical ultra smoothness found in their standard 12 year old expression. It’s not for everybody, but if you’re looking for something with more complexity, this may be the one for you.GSN Rating: B+

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[…] not available in the U.S. at this time. I’ve already reviewed Redbreast’s 12-year-old cask strength and 15-year-old, but I had yet to record my tasting notes for their flagship whiskey. So, to task […]